Open AccessEvaluation of a Multidisciplinary Cachexia and Nutrition Support Service— The Patient and Carers Perspective
Author(s) -
Vanessa Vaughan,
Meg Harrison,
A. Justine Dowd,
Peter Eastman,
Peter Martin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of patient experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2374-3743
pISSN - 2374-3735
DOI - 10.1177/2374373520981476
Subject(s) - multidisciplinary approach , palliative care , medicine , cachexia , nursing , patient empowerment , superordinate goals , service (business) , quality of life (healthcare) , empowerment , family medicine , psychology , cancer , social psychology , social science , economy , sociology , political science , law , economics
The Barwon Health Cachexia & Nutrition Support Service (CNSS) is an outpatient service focused on improving clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients with or at high risk of cancer cachexia. Patients see a multidisciplinary team, comprising a palliative medicine physician, physiotherapist, dietitian, and nurse practitioner. This study evaluated the service from patient and carer perspectives. In 2016/17, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 patients and 9 carers attending the service, focusing on: (1) reflection on experience of the CNSS, and (2) describing how a cachexia-specific service can meet their needs and concerns. Analysis generated 4 superordinate themes: evolving perception of service value, empowerment through person-centered care, communication to patients and carers regarding health/disease information, and the importance of the multidisciplinary team-based approach. Generally, patients and carers reported overall positive experiences with the service, particularly with regard to improved communication and management of the patient. Findings confirmed the patient-centered and individualized approaches were particularly valued. These insights are a critical step in the development of recommendations for future clinical management of cancer cachexia.